Choctaw, MS — William Carey University standout RJ Stinson just added another award to his record breaking season and career for the WCU Crusaders.
Stinson, a third-baseman/outfielder of Pine Bluff (AR) was one of five finalist for the 2024 Dave “Boo” Ferriss Award.
The 2024 winner went to Dakota Jordan of Mississippi State. He is hitting .363 with with 17 HR’s and 61 RBI’s. A OBP% of .478 , slugging .691 with 51 runs scored and three stolen bases.
Since 2004, The Ferriss Trophy is awarded each May to the most outstanding college baseball player in the state of Mississippi. The trophy was named for Dave “Boo” Ferriss, long-time Delta State University baseball legendary coach and member of the Mississippi Sports Hall-of-fame.
RJ’s stats were very impressive and could have very well easy took away the award. He leads his club with a .403 batting average. Leading the team in hits, doubles, walks, slugging percentage, and on base percentage. He is second on the team in RBI’s and home runs while hitting leadoff.
Stinson said, “I appreciate Coach Halford for giving me the opportunity to come to William Carey five-years ago and to be the first Carey player to be honored for this award is a blessing.”
During his career at William Carey, Stinson has broken many records. RJ holds career records for at bats (865), runs (258), hits (329), doubles (47) and RBI’s (220). He holds single season records for at bats (263), runs (98), and hits (105). He currently holds a career batting average of .380.
Stinson will be leading Coach Bobby Halford’s Crusaders back to the NAIA College World Series for the second consecutive year when they open play on Friday in Lewiston, Idaho.
Halford said, “ RJ comes to work everyday and puts the time in. He’s always working to get better and he makes everyone around him better. He’s meant so much to us and our program.”
Former Southern Mississippi Baseball Coach Scott Berry was the featured speaker here today in the packed Ballroom at the Pearl River Resort in Choctaw (MS).
The Ferriss Trophy is selected by a group of professional baseball scouts who cover Mississippi and by the baseball coaches at each school. The top five nominated by this panel become finalists and another round of votes select the winner. No more than one candidate per school may be chosen.
The finalists for the Ferriss Trophy were: Ethan Lege of Ole Miss, Brett Sanchez of Belhaven, Dakota Jordan of Mississippi State, Dalton McIntyre of Southern Miss and RJ Stinson of William Carey.
Stinson is the first player to ever be selected from William Carey University for this award.
Luke Matheson has been covering high school sports in Arkansas since 2005. Before then he served in the United States Army for 8 years. Email Luke at Luke@NaturalStateSports.com